Congress continues to insist on the criminalization of certain drugs for recreational and medicinal use despite the increasing acceptance of these uses by the American people. Consequences of violating these laws can be severe. In addition to criminal penalties, people convicted of drug possession are subject to loss of certain federal benefits. Several states have adopted laws requiring applicants for aid to submit to drug testing.
Despite our government's insistence that our citizens remain drug-free, we have seen repeated examples of members of Congress violating the same laws that they exhort the rest of us to follow.
It is time for Congress to set an example and require periodic random drug testing for all of its members and their staff.